Power down before leaving for the holiday

Jun. 28, 2016, 9:47 AM

(iStockphoto)

Let fireworks be the only thing lighting up the sky this holiday weekend.

Please remember to power down before you leave the office or your home for any extended period this summer, especially during high temperatures. Your reductions in energy use can have a large impact when aggregated across the entire university. Here are some things you can do to help conserve energy while you are away:

Set thermostat settings to 76-78 degrees F. Remember also to adjust thermostats in classrooms unoccupied during the summer.

Close window shades or blinds during the hottest part of the day, or when you leave for the holiday, to keep heat out and cool air in.

Turn off lights in your workspace when you leave, even if only for a short period of time. Turning off your lights will save energy if you are gone for more than 30 seconds.

Turn off lights in common areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, break rooms, classrooms and conference rooms when you leave and especially before leaving for the holiday. Many of these spaces sit empty frequently.

Turn off office or lab equipment. If allowed in your area, computers, printers, copiers, scanners and some lab equipment can be turned off when you leave for the holiday (or at the end of your work shift, if they will not be used again for several hours). Otherwise, activate sleep modes and energy-saving settings. Instructions for modifying power settings can be found on the SustainVU Energy Saving Tips.

In laboratory spaces, close fume hood sashes when not in use or when the lab is closed over the holiday. A single fume hood running 24 hours can use the same amount of energy as a single-family home in a year.